DEBATE CONTINUES ON WHETHER OPERATORS WILL PAY FSN HIKE

          Cable companies in the San Fernando-area, who "contend
     Fox is strong-arming them into paying higher rates" by
     offering twice as many Dodgers games this year, have
     proposed that subscribers "pay to watch" the games,
     according to Steve Carney of the L.A. DAILY NEWS.   MediaOne
     Communications Dir Gisselle Acevedo-Franco said that they
     want customers to "have a choice about whether or not they
     want the Dodgers games and the Angels games, rather than
     just having to accept it."  Carney writes that on July 6,
     Fox Sports Net West and FSNW2 will televise the 41st Dodgers
     game of the season, and cable companies that haven't paid
     the extra fees by then will get alternate programming during
     the game.  Cox Cable, Century Communications, TCI and
     DirecTV "have already agreed to pay," but while neither side
     will disclose the amount of the increase, cable execs "said
     the cost to viewers is far more" than the $.15 per month Fox
     claims.  Acevedo-Franco: "We're talking about millions of
     dollars in the long run" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/14).